Environmental Influences on Subterranean Termite Foraging Behavior and Bait Acceptance

dc.contributor.authorSwoboda, Lois Elizabethen
dc.contributor.committeecochairFell, Richard D.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairMiller, Dini M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberWeaver, Michael Johnen
dc.contributor.committeememberMullins, Donald E.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSchabenberger, Oliveren
dc.contributor.departmentEntomologyen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:12:35Zen
dc.date.adate2004-07-15en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:12:35Zen
dc.date.issued2004-02-25en
dc.date.rdate2004-07-15en
dc.date.sdate2004-05-26en
dc.description.abstractReticulitermids were significantly more likely to discover subterranean baits connected by physical guidelines than freestanding baits under both laboratory and field conditions. In the laboratory, subterranean termites built significantly longer tunnels adjacent to cellulosic guidelines than plastic guidelines. In the field, all guideline materials were equally effective at directing tunneling activity. Reticulitermes spp. workers were tested to determine their preferred substrate temperature. The preferred range for Reticulitermes spp. workers was found to be 18 to 27 degrees C. A laboratory bioassay was performed to determine if Reticulitermes spp. aggregates within thermal shadows. Significantly more Reticulitermes spp. workers aggregated within cool thermal shadows than control areas. In a multiple choice bioassay, mean consumption was higher for paper baits treated with fructose, galactose, glucose, raffinose, sucrose, trehalose and uric acid than for control baits. In a multiple choice bioassay, mean consumption was significantly lower for baits treated with arbutin, and most amino acids than for control baits. In the no-choice bioassay, the amount of paper bait consumed did not differ significantly for any of the treated baits tested and control baits.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-05262004-184108en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05262004-184108/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/27897en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartOnefilegood.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectwood thermoplastic compositesen
dc.subjectTemperatureen
dc.subjectsubterranean termitesen
dc.subjectnutrientsen
dc.subjectphysical guidelinesen
dc.subjectforagingen
dc.titleEnvironmental Influences on Subterranean Termite Foraging Behavior and Bait Acceptanceen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineEntomologyen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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